While Bhat was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar jail on this day in 1984, Guru, who was convicted in parliament attack case, was hanged on 9 February 2013. Both of them were buried inside the premises of the jail.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MP Muhammad Fayaz Mir has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking return of mortal remains of JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru, to their families.

While Bhat was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar jail on this day in 1984, Guru, who was convicted in parliament attack case, was hanged on 9 February 2013. Both of them were buried inside the premises of the jail.

“In a country where killers of an elected Prime Minister were granted clemency and their death sentence was commuted, I do not think it is appalling or disrespectful to seek return of mortal remains of two Kashmiri men to their families,” reads the letter.

“How can dead bodies of two Kashmiri men, who lost their dignity in gallows be a threat to a democracy like India? Is the collective conscience of India sans the collective conscience of Kashmiris?” asked Mir.

I can with utmost responsibility say that should the Government of India decide to act upon this request,

He said the animosity of Kashmiris and their sense of alienation can be brought down by several notches if the GoI returns the mortal remains of the duo.

“Kashmir today stands on the edge of and we cannot overlook that reality. In this troubled time, granting our request would be like a balm on old wounds that are unhealed even after so many years. This will also be in line with religious practices of the deceased persons,” the letter reads.